BASHERS WON'T HOLD THEIR HORSES; TRIPLE CROWN CANDIDATE NOT PRETTY, JUST PRETTY GOOD.Byline: Debbie Arrington Long Beach Press-Telegram The Long Beach Press-Telegram is a major daily newspaper published in Long Beach, California. Tracing its history to 1897, it is currently published by the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. External links
Bob Baffert Bob Baffert (born January 13, 1953 in Nogales, Arizona) is an American horse owner and trainer. He graduated from the University of Arizona's Racetrack Management Program with a Bachelor of Science degree. figures he's done all he can do to prepare Real Quiet for today's rendezvous with history. Now, he just has to hang loose and wait. ``That's the hardest part - the waiting,'' said the white-haired trainer Friday morning after watching his Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby One of the classic U.S. Thoroughbred horse races. It was established in 1875 and run annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs track in Louisville, Ky. With the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, it makes up U.S. racing's coveted Triple Crown. and Preakness champion lope around Belmont's sweeping curves. ``I know I won't sleep tonight. I just want this thing to be over.'' That wait will end late this afternoon when Real Quiet enters the starting gate starting gate n. Sports 1. A series of stalls with interconnected doors that open simultaneously at the beginning of a race. 2. for the 130th Belmont Stakes Belmont Stakes Oldest of the three U.S. horse races that constitute the Triple Crown. The Belmont originated in 1867 and is named after August Belmont (see Belmont family). The stakes is held in early June at Belmont Park, near Garden City, Long Island; the course is 1.5 mi (2,400 m). , the 1-1/2-mile test of the champion. If the skinny bay colt with a crooked leg manages to win, Real Quiet will become only the 12th horse ever to wear the Triple Crown and the first in two decades. Affirmed was the last to accomplish this Herculean task, 20 years ago to the day. A victory would be worth $5.6 million to a horse that cost only $17,000, a bargain Cinderella that Baffert nicknamed the Fish because of his long and narrow build. Now, the Fish has turned into a shark, ready to devour his 12 opponents. Baffert found himself in this same position at last year's Belmont with ``Double Crown'' hero Silver Charm Silver Charm (born February 22 1994) is an American Champion Thoroughbred race horse. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Gary Stevens, Silver Charm won the 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes before falling short of the Triple Crown by placing second in the Belmont . But the big gray came an arm's length arm's length adj. the description of an agreement made by two parties freely and independently of each other, and without some special relationship, such as being a relative, having another deal on the side or one party having complete control of the other. short of winning the grueling Belmont, finishing second to Touch Gold. ``A lot of it is luck and coincidence,'' said Baffert about his back-to-back Triple Crown tries, the first in a century of racing tradition. ``But I do believe in the Derby gods and the Triple Crown gods, too. My owners are generous, wonderful people. When you live a good life, you'll be rewarded.'' Those gods have been smiling a lot on Team Baffert. After early forecasts for thunderstorms thunderstorms a storm characterized by thunder and lightning caused by strong rising air currents; identified as agents of animal disease because of their involvement causing (1) spasmodic colic; (2) lightning strike; (3) injuries of cattle acquired in stampedes initiated by storms. , today's weather is expected to be breezy and warm under sunny skies. A crowd of 70,000 is expected to come out to root for Real Quiet, Baffert and owner Mike Pegram. The lure of the Fish has astounded a·stound tr.v. a·stound·ed, a·stound·ing, a·stounds To astonish and bewilder. See Synonyms at surprise. [From Middle English astoned, past participle of astonen, many longtime race watchers, but Baffert has a ready explanation. ``The sport of kings can be very intimidating to people. But you can get lucky; we've shown that.'' Several critics have blasted Real Quiet, winner of only four of 14 starts, as unworthy of the Triple Crown. But Baffert ignores them. ``People keep knocking our horse and us because we came from humble beginnings Humble Beginnings was an American pop punk band from New Jersey. While never gaining large-scale success, many of the band's members went on to mainstream success with other outfits. ,'' said the 45-year-old trainer. ``It's just like President Clinton. He's doing a great job, but people keep knocking him. We're from the same generation. So is Mike (Pegram). We're all regular guys.'' Pegram, a self-made millionaire who went from flipping burgers to owning 22 McDonalds franchises, added another similarity between himself, Baffert and Clinton. ``We all eat at McDonalds.'' As for Real Quiet, Pegram sees him as the people's pony. ``This horse belongs to the fans. They're the ones who really make racing. We want people to feel like they're part of this.'' But there's still one mammoth hurdle for Real Quiet to overcome. Baffert regards Victory Gallop Victory Gallop (foaled May 30, 1995 in Ontario, Canada) was an American-based Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred by Ivan Dalos' Tall Oaks Farm, Victory Gallop was born later in the 1995 year than is common for most Thoroughbreds. , who finished second behind Real Quiet in both prior classics, as the main rival again. ``But I don't really pay attention to who else is in the race. I can only worry about my own horse. ``The only thing that can get him beat is bad racing luck,'' he added. ``His only vulnerability is having a guy like me train him.'' BELMONT STAKES AT A GLANCE What: 130th running of the 1-1/2-mile third leg of the Triple Crown for 3-year-old thoroughbreds, racing this year for shares of a $1 million purse. Where: Belmont Park, on Long Island, N.Y. Weather forecast: Clear skies with a high of 72 degrees. When: 2:27 p.m. PDT PDT abbr. Pacific Daylight Time PDT Pacific Daylight Time PDT n abbr (US) (= Pacific Daylight Time) → hora de verano del Pacífico PDT . TV/radio: Coverage starts at 1:30 p.m. on Channel 7 and 2:20 on KNX-AM (1070). Where to bet: Wagers on the Belmont will be taken at Hollywood Park, Santa Anita and 15 other Southern California locations, including the Ventura County and Antelope Valley fairgrounds n. pl. 1. same as fairground. . First post at Hollywood Park is 1:20 p.m. Favorite: Real Quiet can earn a $5 million bonus for owner Mike Pegram by becoming the 12th horse - the first since Affirmed 20 years ago - to sweep the Triple Crown. Western flavor: Real Quiet is one of seven horses in the Belmont who have raced in Southern California or have jockeys, trainers or owners based here. TRIPLE CROWN HISTORY-MAKERS Kent Desormeaux, who will ride Real Quiet today in the Belmont Stakes, can join the 10 jockeys who have swept the Triple Crown: John Loftus (Sir Barton, 1919) got the job when Earle Sande chose the Derby runner-up. Earle Sande (Gallant Fox, '30) ended a two-year retirement at age 34 - just in time to ride this horse. William ``Smokey'' Saunders (Omaha, '35) is one of four to capture a Triple Crown but never a national riding title. Charlie Kurtsinger (War Admiral, '37) was riding in his last Triple Crown races. Eddie Arcaro (Whirlaway, '41, and Citation, '48) is the only two-time Triple Crown rider. John Longden (Count Fleet, '43) was a guest star on ``I Love Lucy I Love Lucy is a television situation comedy, starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, also featuring Vivian Vance and William Frawley. The series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on CBS (181 episodes, including the "lost" Christmas episode and original .'' Warren Mehrtens (Assault, '46) won the only Derby he rode. Ron Turcotte (Secretariat, '73) has been in a wheelchair since a 1978 riding accident. Jean Cruguet (Seattle Slew, '77) had been a soldier and riding champion in France. Steve Cauthen (Affirmed, '78) was an 18-year-old boy wonder. --- Kevin Modesti CAPTION(S): 2 Boxes BOX: (1) BELMONT STAKES AT A GLANCE (see text) (2) TRIPLE CROWN HISTORY-MAKERS (see text) |
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